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Tag 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF)

  • Feb, Fri, 2020
Sport

NSF 2020: Sports Minister commends Edo govt. on quality of facilities provided so far

Commendation
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Feb. 28, 2020 (NAN) The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Friday in Benin commended the Edo government for the state-of-the-art facilities put in place ahead of the National Sports Festival (NSF).

Dare, who was represented by Gabriel Aduda, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, made the commendation shortly after inspecting facilities at the University of Benin, Federal Girls College and the Ogbemudia Stadium.

“With what we have seen today especially, the sports facilities are extremely heart-gladdening, compared with what we saw about three weeks ago when we came for inspection.

“There is a huge difference and a lot is being done to complete most of the facilities.’’

The minister added that the inspection team had not only looked at sports facilities.

“We have also looked at the facilities the athletes require for other things, like the changing rooms, the offices, the work spaces and all and it is amazing how much the state has been able to achieve,’’ he said.

Dare however pointed out that the only place the team had seen a challenge for now was in the accommodation of athletes.

“But, also, we are looking up to the state government, to see what they will be able to do. So, we are expecting another miracle in the area of accommodation for the athletes.

“We are expecting a miracle in the next two to three weeks, even though it is not near what we expect at this time.

“However, we are extremely happy that the state is putting in its best, and by the time we come in for another inspection, we expect to see a huge lift forward in providing a befitting accommodation for the athletes.

“We are hoping that the accommodation that they preparing for athletes will be in place before the next two weeks when we will come for another inspection,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facilities inspection team also had Habu Gumel, the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).(NAN)
AJOM/KOO/OLAL
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(Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Olawale Alabi)

  • Feb, Thu, 2020
Sport

Edo coaches, athletes ready to win medals at 20th NSF, Osifo says

Medals
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Feb. 27, 2020 (NAN) Maria Osifo, former Edo Athletics Head Coach, on Thursday assured that the state’s coaches and athletes were ready to win medals for the state during the upcoming National Sports Festival (NSF).

Osifo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that she was sure of this because the coaches had no jobs other than training the athletes to win medals.

“For the NSF, the coaches and athletes have been training. I know that for sure.

“And they (the coaches) know it’s just a few days to the commencement of events.

“This is the time to start putting finishing touches to all what they have learnt,’’ she said.

Speaking on motivation for athletes who win medals for Edo, the African record–holder in women’s 400 metres hurdles said the athletes were aware they would get some reward.

“The Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, during his motivational speech to the athletes didn’t announce the amount for medalists. But the athletes are aware and they are highly motivated.’’

NAN reports that Osifo was one of Edo’s sports icons presented to the public when the 20th NSF Local Organising Committee (LOC) unveiled the festival’s mascot and theme song on Oct. 17.

The 20th NSF, which will hold from March 22 to April 1, will be the third NSF to be hosted by Edo.(NAN)
AJOM/AIB/OLAL
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde and Olawale Alabi)

  • Feb, Fri, 2020
Sport

Edo 2020: Gov. Yahaya urges Gombe athletes to work hard to win medals

Athletes
By Peter Uwumarogie
Gombe, Feb. 14, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Friday urged athletes in the state to work hard to win medals at the upcoming National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled for Benin.

Yahaya, after receiving the festival’s Torch of Unity Torch in Gombe, said the era when the state’s athletes record poor results was over

Represented by his deputy, Manasseh Jatau, the governor said the state’s youths must rewrite the records by winning laurels for the state.

“We will provide all the necessary support and logistics to ensure that the state’s athletes perform better than at previous competitions.

“Youths will be given priority in order to realise their potential,’’ he said.

Also speaking at the occasion, Mohammed Datti, the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, explained the reason behind the movement of the torch of unity.

“It is part of the tradition of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development to present the torch in all states of the federation.

“The torch which is a symbol of peace and unity is to signal the beginning of the festival as well as spread brotherhood amongst the people of Nigeria,’’ he said.

Also, Hamza Soye, the Executive Chairman of Gombe State Sports Commission, assured that the state’s athletes would perform better than they did at previous festivals.

“We are preparing for 16 events and we are hopeful.”

Soye disclosed that the state government was putting in place arrangements to set up an academy in five sports to help the state’s youths combine sports and education.

He assured that the issues of doping in sports had been addressed in the state, saying “drugs have no place in sports.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 20th NSF scheduled for Benin in Edo from March 22 to April 1 will see athletes featuring in 32 sports.(NAN)
UP/MAM/OLAL
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(Edited by Modupe Adeloye and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

NSF: Enugu Boxers yet to begin camping — Coach

Boxers

By Nicholas Obisike

Enugu, Jan. 5, 2020 (NAN) Barely one month to the 2020 National Sports Festival in Edo, boxers in Enugu State are yet to be called to camp, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN reports that the Commissioner for Youths and Sports in the state, Vitus Okechi in Nov. 2019 promised to camp the players three months before the NSF in March.

Reacting to the development, the Enugu State Boxing Coach, Blaise Ude, said that the boxers under his watch had been training routinely as they waited camping for the sports festival.

Ude told NAN that the boxers were training to be in shape for the festival.

”We are always ready for any competition as we have never neglected our daily training.

”I believe that soon the athletes will be called to camp by the State Government to enable them perform well in the festival,” Ude said.

He said that they were only doing their job by conducting daily training for the athletes.

NAN reports that the state may not participate in the team sports including football and basketball as they failed to honour the South East Zonal elimination game held in Owerri, Imo State capital in January. (NAN)

NUO/CEO/MNA
Edited by Chidi Opara/Maureen Atuonwu

 

Sport

Ebewele says Edo has employed more than 600 athletes for NSF 2020

Employment
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Dec. 17, 2019 (NAN) The Chairman of Team Edo to the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF), Brown Ebewele, says the state government has employed more than 600 athletes for the festival tagged “Edo 2020’’.

Ebewele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Benin the state government was hopeful of making good use of the athletes’ services.

“My job is to put in place a structure for us to win the festival, and as far as I am concerned I have put that winning structure in place, especially with the employment of the needed athletes.

“The athletes are for the purpose of winning the festival and, by the grace of God, everything we put on paper as programme have been going as planned.

“We are familiar with the terrain, and we have done it before and I think we can still go for it again,’’ he said.

The former Edo Sports Commissioner however said he was ready to defend his actions if Team Edo in the long run failed to win the festival.

“If we don’t win, I will give the reasons why we didn’t win.’’

He assured that, in terms of facilities, he was confident the state government would be able to put them in place ahead of time.

“I think they will be ready between now and middle of February, and very soon we will be talking about test-running the facilities.(NAN)
AJOM/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Nothing like poaching in sports, athletes must move from one place to another, Ebewele says

Poaching
By Monday Ajogun
Benin, Nov. 24, 2019 (NAN) Former national athlete Brown Ebewele on Sunday in Benin said the use of the term “poaching of athletes’’ in Nigerian sports circle is totally wrong.

Ebewele said there is nothing like “poaching’’ but the fact that athletes must move from one place to another ahead of important events such as the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF).

“Athletes must move for greener pastures. Athletes must move from one place to another.

“In Europe, when you hear of athletes moving from a club or team to another, what do you call it? I think it is called `transfer’. Did anyone call it `poaching’? No,’’ he said.

Ebewele, who is Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Team Edo in the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 20th NSF tagged “Edo 2020’’, said movements and transfers are usual occurrences in sports.

“They (athletes) must move from one place to another. It is normal. They are looking for greener pastures. So, it’s not `poaching’, it’s greener pastures,’’ he said.

The former U.S.-based athlete said movements from one team or club to another are crucial in sports, especially in the business aspect of it.

“Part of the business of sports is movement. If you are doing well and you are hot, somebody must come for your services. If the pay is good, you must move.

“As a matter of fact, the best word you can use for it as a sports man is recruitment. When a major tournament is coming like the NSF, states must beef up their teams.’’

He said it must be realised as a fact that athletes have the right to move from one place to another when they are not owned by any body or group.(NAN)
AJOM/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)